Motor Road Transport For Commercial Purposes
(Liquid Fuel, Steam, Electricity)

PETROL VEHICLE COSTS 53 Ist May, 1915, to 31st Jan., 1916 Running costs of 37 motor vans with average carrying capacity of 15 cwt.— £ s. d. Repairs (partly under contract) and tyres . . 1,379 11 2 Expenses (Petrol, oil, etc.) . . . . . 2,192 3 8 Drivers’ wages.................................. 1*880 4 9 Garage Staff wages ...... 382 - - ,, Rent at £150 per annum . . . . 112 - - Depreciation (5 years life) ..... 1,500 - - Insurance ....... 320 - - Washer’s wages . . . . . . . 150 - - P,915 19 7 The total mileage for the period was 346,585 miles, thus resulting in a vehicle cost per mile of 5'45 pence. Interest on Capital is not included. Fleet Running. The results of the running of fleets of vehicles are as interesting and instructive as those of a single van, indeed, a sounder average cost figure will often be found where a fleet is concerned, and this in spite of the faet that fleet owners have certain advantages over the one, two, or three van trader. The war naturally upset all commercial motor transport in England; nevertheless, this period and that after the Armistice are worthy of study with regard to mechanical haulage for the reason that great difficulties had to be contended with. Mileages had to be curtailed very considerably, and repairs were not easy to undertake. The following lists contain the yearly mileages, from the date of purchase, of each van belonging to a fleet of forty-four petrol driven vehicles.